Physician&#39;s folding table.



E. MYERS, W.'D. McLELLAND 6L J. M. KANNETT.

I PHYSICIAN'S FOLDING TABLE.

APPLWATION FILED DEC-26. 1914.

Patnted Mar. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Attorneys E. MYERS, W. D. McLELLAND & J. M. KANNETT.

PHYSICIAN'S FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-26.1914.

1.171130. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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EBENEzER-MYERs, or ADVANCE, AND WI LIAM DAVIES MCLELLAND AND JOHN MONROW KANNETT, or MOORESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

PHYSICIANS FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 19116.

Application filed December 26 1914. Serial No. 879,175;

Carolina, have invented a new and useful Phvsicians Folding Table, of which the following is a specification. H

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a sur 'eons operating table adapted for specific uses which will suggest themselves readily to those skilled in the art.

The invention aims to provide a device of this sort which may be folded readily into compact form for transportation. the constructionbeing such that the device when set up will be rigid enough for the purpose for which it is intended.

The invention aims to provide novel means for assembling the leg frames with the body portion of the table, to provide novel means whereby one extension may have proper movement to permit the folding of other parts, to improve the latch mechanism whereby the links which form a part of theextension may be assembled with the platform'portion of the structure, and, to improve generally and "to enhance the utility'of devices of that tvpe to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the'combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed,-it being understood that chang'esin the precise embodiment of the inventlon here1n dlsclosed can "be made withinthe scope of what is claimed. without departing from the sp1ritofthe inven tion. i

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows the lnventlon 1n top plan, the extension being let down; Fig. 2 is a side ele-f vation showing the table set up; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showingthe table in folded condition; Fig. 4 isa fragmental sideelevation of one of athe leg holding braces;

-Fig. 5 is a cross section taken through the table when the same is folded up and in the condition depicted in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section; Fig. 7 is a fragmental horizontal section showing one corner of the platform and associated parts: Fig. 8 is a fragmental elevation showing one of the connecting links and associated parts; Fig. 9'is a vertical section taken longitudinallv of the foot rest and those portions of the structure wherewith the foot rest is as embled.

The table herein disclosed comprises a central platform 1, ahead rest 2 and an extension 3. Thepa'rts above mentioned each consist, preferably. as clearly shown in Fig. 3. of a peripheral frame and a top superposed thereon, this construction being resorted to for thesake of lightness.

The platform 1 is upheld by means of end frames4 and 5 which preferably are of like construction. Noting in Fig. 6 it will becbservod that-each end frame comprises a top bar 6 and a bottom bar 7. up right legs 8 uniting the bars 6 and 7 and intersecting braces 9, the upper ends of which are secured to the top bars 6. the lower ends of which preferably are secured to the legs 8 near to the lower ends thereof. At their places of intersection. the braces 5) maybe united with each other bv means of securing elements 10. As indicated in Fig. F. hinges 11 unite the end frame 4 with the platform 1. Hinges 12unite the end frame 5 with the platform 1, but the pivotal connections between the constituent parts of the hinges 12 are odset from the lower faces of the platform 1 as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that when the end frame 4 is folded up against the under face of the platform 1, the end frame 5 may befolded up against the'frame 4 without straining the hinges 12.

At the sides of the platform 1 and below the same, the frames 1 and 5 are united by intersecting braces 14. Each brace 14 comprises an upper member 15, the upper members 15 being pivoted to the leg portions 8 of the end frames 4 and 5. Each brace 14: comprises a lower member 16 carrying transverse straps 17 in which the lower end of the uppermember 15-of the braces 14 is mounted to slide for adjustments. Adjacent its lower end-as shown in -Fig. 4:,eaeh lower member 16 is provided with a notch 18 adapted to receive a wing bolt 19 in the leg 8, the construction being suchthat the lower end of the member 16 may be removed readily from the wing bolt 19, it being possible to tighten up the wing bolt for the purpose of clamping the lower member 16 against the leg 8. At its upper end, each lower member 16 carries a wing bolt 20 mounted to slide in a slot 21 formed in the member 15 of the brace longitudinally thereof. This wing bolt 20 may be tightened up to hold the brace 14 at a predetermined length.

The head rest2 is pivotally assembled with one end of the platform 1 by. means of hinges 22 so that the head rest may be raised and lowered. In order to hold the head rest in adjusted positions, a brace frame 23 is hinged at its upper end as shown at 24 to the head rest 2. the lower end of the frame 23 being adapted to engage. adjustably, with the different teeth of racks 25 which are secured to the legs 8 0f the end frame 5. An examination of Fig. 2 will render it evident that through the means of the brace frame 23 and the racks 25, the head rest 2 may be maintained at different angles with respect to the platform 1. A brace frame 26 is united by means of hinges 7 with the extension 3 and cotiperates with supports 28 on the legs 8 of the end frame 4, it thus being possible to drop the extension 3 into the depending position shown in solid line in Fig. 2, or to raise the extension 3 vertically into approximate alinement with the platform 1, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In order to connect the extension 3 movable with the platform 1, links 29 are assembled with the edges of the foot rest 3 by means of pivot elements 30. Pivot elements 31 pass through the inner ends of the links 29 and are mounted. as shown in Fig. 7. in the side arms of angle strips 32 extended around the corners of the platform 1. In each corner of the platform 1 there is formed a longitudinally extended recess 33. The side of the recess 33 is closed by the side arm of the angle member 32 and the end of the recess is closed by the arm 34 which extends along the transverse edge of theplatform 1. Lod ed in each recess 32 and abutting against the arm 34 of the angle member 32 is a compression spring 35, the inner end of which abuts against a latch, comprising a body 36 mounted to reciprocate in the recess 33. and a finger 37 mounted to move in a slot 38 formed in the side arm of the angle member 32. As shown in Fig. 8. each link 29 is provided in its lower edge with a rectangular slot 39 defining a forwardly presented finger 40 which is beveled upon its lower edge and upon its edge as shown at 41. The finger 40 coiiperates with the finger 37 on the latch in a manner which will be pointed out hereinafter. The recesses 33 in the plat form 1 are closed at their upper and lower ends by means of metallic plates 42 attached to the platform 1 by means of securing elements 42.

Through the platform 1 and through the plates 42 pass openings 43. The openings 43 are adapted to receive studs 44 formed integrally with or attached to leg bars 45. If desired nuts 46 may be threaded onto the lower ends of the studs 44 in order to hold the leg bars 45in place, the nuts 46 bearingagainst the lower plates 42. Adjustable on each leg bar 45 longitudinally thereof is a foot rest which is a composite structure, the same including an upright 47 and a base 48 the latter element resting upon the leg bar 45. Depending from the bar '48 adjacent its forward end is a lug 49 which may be insert ed into any one of a series of openings 50 formed in the leg bars 45. The foot rest is held for adjustment on the bar 45 by means of U-shaped stirrups 51 and 52. thelupper ends of which are connected to the base 48, the stirrups passing around the leg bar 45. The bottom portion of the forward stirrup 52 is spaced some distance below the lower face of the leg bar 45, so that by tilting up the forward end of the base 48 the lug 49 may be removed from one opening 50 and be inserted into another of the openings 50 thereby to permit an adjusting of the position of the foot rest. The bottom portion of the stirrup 51 preferably is spaced slightly from the lower face of the leg bar 45 in order that the forward end of the base 48 of the foot rest may have the necessary vertical movement. during adjustment. Ex tended longitudinally of the edges of the platform 1 are hand grips 53 united with the longitudinal edges of the platform 1 by means of upright, spaced supports 54.

Let it be supposed that the structure is set up for use as shown in Fig. 2 and that it is desired to collapse the same s that it will appear as shown in Fig. 3. The head rest 2 is swung over in the direction of the arrow A on top of the platform 1, the brace frame 23 being swung over in the direction of the arrow A until it rests on top of the head rest 2. Then the latches 3637 are pressed forwardly until the fingers 37 no longer are engaged above the fingers 40 of the links 29. Thereupon. the links 29 may be swung up into vertical position substantially as shown in Fig. 8. the extension 3 being swung over in the direction of the arrow B on top 'of the brace frame 23.-the brace frame 26 head rest 2, the extension 3 or the brace frames 23 and 36 with respect to the platform 1, with a consequent straining of the connecting hinges, being avoided.

. The lower, notched ends 18 of the braces 14 are thus cast off from the wing bolts 19. The end frame 4 is swung upwardly in the direction of the arrows C until it rests against the lower face of the platform 1 the end frame 5 being swung upwardly in the direction of the arrow D until it rests against the end frame 4. In this connection it is to be noted that as hereinbefore stated, the pivot pins of the hinges 12 are offset from the platform 1, so that the end frame 5 may be swung upwardly into approximate parallelism with the end frame 4, after the latter has been folded against the platform 1. The wing bolts 20 in the brace 14 then are loosened and the constituent parts 15 and 16 of the braces 14 are telescoped on each other, the braces being swung upwardly into approximate alinement with the end frames 4 and 5 as delineated in Fig. 3.

As willrbe understood readily, when the table is unfolded, and when the extension is swung over toward the left, referring to Fig. 2, the beveled edges 41 of the links 19 engage with the fingers 37 of the latches 36, compressing the springs 35 until, under the action of the springs, the fingers 37 of the latches enter the end portions of the slots 39 and engage above the fingers 40, thereby to hold the links 29 in alinement with the platform 1. The function of the links 29 is to space the extension 3 from the platform 1 when the parts are folded, so that the head rest 2 may lie beneath the extension 3, all of which will be obvious from Fig. 3. Any material may be used in making any of the parts of the table above described.

Those skilled in the art will perceive that the device herein disclosed is adapted to be used primarily in handling obstetrical cases,

and an accoucheur will understand the functions of those parts of the structure which come into use under the circumstances above mentioned.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In an operating table, a platform having a recess in one corner; an angle member applied to the platform and comprising a primary arm forming a closure for the side of the recess and a secondary arm forming a closure for the end of the recess; a spring in the recess and abutting against the secondary arm; a latch in the recess and engaged by the spring, the latch having a finger, and the primary arm having a slot receiving the finger movably; a link pivoted to the primary arm and comprising means for engaging the finger; and an extension pivoted to the link.

2. In an operating table, a platform having a recess in one corner; plates applied to the top and the bottom of the platform and forming closures for the top and bottom of the recess; a foot rest having clamping means for engaging both plates; an angle member applied to the edges of the platform and closing the side and the end of the re cess, the angle member engaging the plates to act as a brace therefor under the action of the clamping means; an extension adapted to coact with the foot rest; a link forming a pivotal connection between the extension and the angle member; and a link-engaging latch in the recess.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

EBENEZER- MYERS. WILLIAM DAVIES MCLELLAND. JOHN MON ROWV KANNETT.

Vitnesses ZEB. V. TURBINGTON, J. F. Doimow.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

